Fresh take on Dutch classic fairy tale

Jing Wen, translator [Photo provided to China Daily]

Ineke van de Pol, head of the Press and Cultural Department at the Dutch embassy in Beijing, says: "Little Johannes is first and foremost a children's book. It teaches very important values to children about the good and the bad, the search for happiness, the importance of nature and positivism.

"On the other hand, its topics are relevant for people of all ages."

In 2011, the Netherlands was the focus of the Beijing International Book Fair and the Dutch Fund for Literature organized a major literary showcase in the Chinese capital.

"The Dutch Fund for Literature has invested a lot in the Chinese market in the past decade, which has resulted in numerous translations and an ever-growing interest in Dutch literature of all genres," Van de Pol says.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Netherlands.

Bas Pulles, deputy head of mission from the embassy of the Netherlands in Beijing, says the history of relations between the two countries can be traced back far longer than that.

"Ties have traditionally been built on trade, but in recent history more and more exchanges in cultural fields including literature have taken place," says Pulles.

The Netherlands is well known for its children's stories and 25 percent of all books sold in the country are children's books. Miffy by Dick Bruna is an iconic example and is loved by many Chinese people.

"There are now over 200 Dutch children's books which have been translated and published in China. I'm delighted that Little Johannes is one of those," Pulles says. "The book is a true classic, and its theme is universal."

"It's also our goal to encourage more collaboration with China in this field by building partnerships with publishing houses."